Priorities

Supporting BAME Staff & Communities during COVID-19

Sussex Health and Care Partnership have launched a programme to address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities in Sussex.

A recent analysis by the Office of National Statistics has shown that the risk of death involving the coronavirus among some ethnic groups is significantly higher than that of those of white ethnicity. When taking into account age in the analysis, black males are 4.2 times more likely to die from a COVID-19-related death and black females are 4.3 times more likely to die than white males and females. People of Bangladeshi and Pakistani, Indian, and mixed ethnicities also had a statistically significant raised risk of death involving COVID-19 compared with those of white ethnicity.

At a national level an inquiry is taking place to understand the situation and across the Sussex Health and Care Partnership (SHCP) we have launched a significant rapid response programme to enable us to collectively take urgent action. This is being led by Lola Banjoko, Managing Director for Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group.

The programme is based on national guidance and focuses on staff in all health and care settings as well as patients and communities in the Sussex. It will bring together the NHS Trusts, GPs, and local authorities as well as the voluntary sector and local community to address this very important situation.

Our work to engage and listen to our BAME health and care staff and communities in Sussex will start shortly.